Tuesday, April 19, 2016

UC Santa Cruz McHenry Library - 2nd Floor Touch Screen Display

The UC Santa Cruz McHenry Library has a large touch display on the 2nd floor, near the main entrance.

It appears they partnered with vendor Four Winds Interactive, to provide the display hardware and software:
http://www.fourwindsinteractive.com/

Staff write:
"The FourWinds system was installed in the spring of 2012. The screens are 46" NEC / Canvys V462's w/3M Dispersive Signal Technology (DST) Touch Screen overlays. Screen content is driven by Medius FWP61-BSW microcomputers running Windows 7. The interface is proprietary software owned by FourWinds."
Links:



The Science of Making Friends

An article about making friends, as adults:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-science-of-making-friends-1460992572

Monday, April 18, 2016

Superfeet Copper

Replacing stock insoles with size E, of the following:

https://www.superfeet.com/en-us/copper

Tried on just about every style, at REI. They all felt similar, but these have a memory foam top layer, so giving it a try.

Robert L. Canson - First African-American Police Officer, City of Sacramento

Sign reads:

In Memory Of
Robert L. Canson
1918 - 2001

Beloved Peace Officer and Friend
First African-American Police Officer
City of Sacramento

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Radio Songs - Instrumental Surf Music

Kevin has identified Surf Music, specifically, instrumental surf. So good!

Heard on KDVS 90.3 FM out of Davis, CA on Friday, April 15:

  • Show Sub Zero, "Exploring classic and modern instrumental surf music and other styles. The music is so cool it's sub zero."
Note: this answers a question, for me, about what style of music this represents, first recognized while watching The Red Elvises, which Wikipedia repots as performing, "funk rock, surf, rockabilly, reggae, folk rock, disco and traditional Russian styles of music...Their music filled the soundtrack of Lance Mungia's independent film released in 1998, Six-String Samurai, a film in which they also had small roles and screen credits."

Can't wait to learn more/listen more.

FasTrak First Use: Antioch Bridge

Used it first during a north-bound crossing of Antioch Bridge, on Monday, April 4, at noon. Worked great.

Note: had planned to use it while crossing the Benicia–Martinez Bridge, but missed my turn and ended up crossing at the Antioch Bridge.

Cliff Swallows Have Returned To Santa Cruz

Note: not sure if this represents the species we see here, in Santa Cruz, or not 
Wikipedia:
"Petrochelidon is a genus of birds known as cliff-nesting swallows. The genus includes all of the five species of birds commonly called cliff swallow...."
Noticed them this weekend, for the first time this year. They speedily swoop by, circle, dive, ascend. Maybe 12-24 in sight, at any one time? They seem to individually fly, not flock. One web site describes their song: "guttural grating sounds and squeaks" which sounds unpleasant, but seems just fine, to me. Our cats seem to find it all very entertaining.

The birds return annually to nest, then return to South America, to over-winter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrochelidon
http://www.nativeanimalrescue.org/the-amazing-swallow/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_Santa_Cruz_County,_California

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Banana Slug Sighting - University of California, Santa Cruz

Saw my first banana slug today, on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus. Then, 30 seconds later, I saw my second. Both seemed to have spotted citrus fruit peelings.
Banana slug, top center, slowly moving toward citrus peel, bottom center
Weather: 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity 88%. Overcast clouds at 700 feet. 2.2mph wind, from the SSW. Pressure 29.94 inches. Dew point 53 degress Fahrenheit. Slight drizzle. Had rained the previous day. Everything wet and humid and cool and misty and overcast, with tall redwoods all around.

-- UCSC McHenry Library, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Sunday, April 03, 2016

My Golden Days - Film

Heard Subject on the radio in the last week or two; want to see it.

UC Santa Cruz Hike

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6834016
  • Baskin School of Engineering
  • McHenry Library
    • Global Village Cafe
      • Bauru: Ham, tomatoes, melted mozzarella cheese & oregano (we chose the whole wheat baguette)
      • Acerola smoothie: Amazon cherry, banana, strawberries & OJ
      • Now operated by Amazon Juices UCSC
      • Features pastries by Kelly's French Bakery
    • Noticed the newspaper displays had gone dark
    • Liked the regional topographic maps
  • Walked through the UCSC Department of Music building, to view the practice rooms:
    • Older, but well-maintained equipment
    • Several practice rooms occupied, but many free
    • Yamaha Clavinova CLP-122S Digital Piano
      • Year of manufacture: 1992
      • Features: 
        • Master volume slider
        • Reverb
          • OFF ............When no reverb effect is selected (no REVERB indicator is lit), a special natural damper effect is applied to the piano voices. This simulates the natural resonance of an acoustic piano’s strings and sound board when the damper pedal is pressed.
          • ROOM ........This setting add a continuous reverb effect to the sound that is similar to the type of acoustic reverberation you would hear in a medium-size room
          • HALL 1 ......For a “bigger” reverb sound, use the HALL 1 setting. This effect simulates the natural reverberation of a medium-size concert hall
          • HALL 2 ......For a really spacious reverb sound, use the HALL 2 setting. This effect simulates the natural reverberation of a large concert hall
          • COSMIC ....The COSMIC reverb effect produces an echo-plus-reverb sound that can add life and animation to your music
        • MIDI/Transpose: Allows access to the Clavinova’s Transpose function (to shift the pitch of the entire keyboard up or down), keyboard touch sensitivity adjustment, and MIDI functions
        • Voice Selectors: 
          • Piano 1
          • Piano 2
          • Clavinova tone
          • E. piano
          • Harpsichord
          • Organ
        • Pedals:
          • Soft/Sostenuto (Left) Pedal
          • Damper (Right) Pedal
        • Playing the Demonstration Tunes
          • Press the C7 key (right-most) while holding the [MIDI/TRANSPOSE] button
          • Press a selector to start playback of the corresponding tune, featuring the voice normally selected by that voice selector button
          • Tunes:
            • [PIANO 1] .................. “Grande valse brillante” by F. F. Chopin
            • [PIANO 2] .................. “Lake Louise” by Yuhki Kuramoto
            • [CLAVINOVA TONE] “Rêverie” by Debussy
            • [HARPSICHORD] ..... “Invention 3” by J. S. Bach
            • [ORGAN] ................... “Symphonie pour orgue No.5” by Widor
        • Dual Mode: allows selecting and configuring two voices at once
          • Touch sensitivity configuration: Hard/Medium/Soft
          • Transposition:  
            • Shift the pitch of the entire keyboard up or down in semitone intervals up to a maximum of six semitones
            • “Transposing” the pitch of the Clavinova keyboard facilitates playing in difficult key signatures, and you can easily match the pitch of the keyboard to the range of a singer or other instrumentalist
          • Pitch control: Pitch control makes it possible to tune the Clavinova over a ±50-cent range in approximately 1.2-cent intervals
      • Yamaha Upright Acoustical Piano
        • Serial Number 1213490
        • Indicates Hamamatsu, Japan, as the manufacture location, in 1971-1972 (?)
        • Found arrangement, in the piano bench, of Étude Op. 25, No. 7 (Chopin), "alternatively known as the "Cello" due to the prominent melody played in the left hand"
    • Great Meadow Bike Path
    • Passed the UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS)
    • Service road: had a number of 40 yard dumpster containers, for various materials: plastics, carpets, metals
    • Arboretum, through the back gate, walked into the gift shop
    • Smelled rich foliage smells, reminding me of the ravine near my childhood home
    • Up the hill, to Oakes College
    • Passed a number of signs: Collective Museum, the campus-wide art project by Portland-based artist group Public Doors and Windows (PDW); we sat at Ken's Bench
    • Koi fish
    • Porter Slug Grill and Cafe: open, but we overheard someone asking about something unrelated, and we though it was closed...not a big deal, since we needed cash and the ATM seemed down
    • Walked through Kresge College, to Owl's Nest, but closed
    • Back to McHenry BSOE
    • Drove to Marini's, on Swift, for ice cream--noticed the Ferris Wheel model working, but the marbles kept falling off


    Sunday, March 13, 2016

    How to Care for a Sad Person


    Done:
    1. Lay blanket out
    2. Pick up sad person
    3. Lay sad person in blanket 
    4. Roll them like a sushi
    5. Place sad roll on bed/couch/comfy place
    6. Hug roll close
    7. Put on rolls favorite movies 
    8. Feed roll snacks
    9. Make sure roll is well hydrated. Tears make roll dehydrated 
    10. Happy lil’ sushi roll
    My Neighbor Totoro, chocolate, wine, sparkling water.

    Saturday, March 12, 2016

    McLaren 12C

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_12C

    Seen in a parking spot, at our apartment complex. o_O

    Parked between two SUVs. Used models retail for close to USD$200,000.

    UPDATE: It's crammed between two Honda CR-V SUVs. Disquieting.

    Thursday, March 10, 2016

    Radio Songs

    Heard on KDVS 90.3 FM out of Davis, CA:

    Bart Graft's "I Ain't Waiting", from the self-published album, "Nineteen Eighty-Five". Bandcamp.

    Super Dry - Japan

    Saw someone wearing a coat manufactured by Super Dry - Japan, which seemed pretty cool. No idea what style, but something like a windbreaker (windcheater?):

    http://www.superdry.com/us/mens/windcheaters

    Zydeco Wake Up Music

    Last weekend I listened to a radio program playing zydeco music and it planted the seed of an idea to wake up to zydeco, at some point, in the future. Noting so I do not forget.

    Sunday, March 06, 2016

    Minera Dead Sea Salt

    Suggested by Lanna.

    Superga Shoes

    Saw someone wearing Superga shoes:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superga_(brand)

    Noting, for reference only.

    Inspector Morse

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspector_Morse_(TV_series)

    Costco sells this series--look interesting. He seems Oxford-based.

    Google Express: Sorting High to Low, Less Than $25

    Recently received a $25 gift code, from Google Express and Costco.

    Well, how to find something $25 and under, and sort high to low?

    The interface does not seem to allow it so well. Google customer support chat did not help.

    So, it turns out this works:

    https://www.google.com/express/search?c=60&p_max=25&m=9090995&st=PRICE_HIGH_TO_LOW&s=0

    Specifically:

    • st=PRICE_HIGH_TO_LOW
    • p_max=25


    Sunday, February 14, 2016

    Pre-Valentines Day 2016

    We visited Chocolate: The Restaurant on Valentines Day Saturday, February 13, 2016, the day before Valentines Day.

    Food was delicious, staff friendly and accommodating, prices not unreasonable, but, this year, logistics, dripping ceiling water, and web site mis-communications kind of killed our date.

    MEAL
    • "Our Specialty: Chicken Mole: Free-range chicken... braised in our rich chocolate mole sauce, made with bittersweet chocolate and roasted peanuts. Not sweet. Not very spicy. Served with organic baby greens & pepita seeds w/ balsamic vinaigrette, & our gluten-free polenta pie"
    • "Our Own Baked Pasta Rosettes: Fresh Pasta Pinwheels stuffed w/ ricotta & romano cheeses served with Artichoke Pesto Cream Sauce (Half Order w/ Organic Baby Greens)"
    • Dessert orgy, small:
      • Slice, Coconut Cheesecake: "One of our specialties, made with shredded coconut, coconut milk, and white chocolate. Topped with dark chocolate ganache"
      • Slice, Chocolate Ecstacy Cake: "light & bittersweet, dusted with cocoa"
      • Small serving, Gelato: extra rich old-fashioned Ice Cream, chocolate-minte (with mini mint chocolate bar sticking up, from the top)
      • Cream Pies: "Rich custard in a cookie crumb crust with our homemade whipped cream. Dark Chocolate Cream"
      • Chocolate Mousse Truffles: Not sure what flavor we got...to me, it tasted a bit like balsamic vinaigrette, but Dawn is not in agreement...the filling was white; "Mocha, Hazelnut, Coconut, White Amaretto, Rich Milk, White Rose, Salted Caramel Dense Dark French, Mexican Spice, Bittersweet Mousse, Dark Rose, Fresh-Mint"
    • Optional: 
      • Glass, Pinot Noir: 2008 Aiena Vineyards, Monterey Bright and rich with aromas of cherry and ornage peel. An excellent wine.
      • Glass, Pizzolato Spumante: Cantina “Il Pizzolato” Veneto, Italy Dry with complex and pronounced grapefruit flavor in the finish. This sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay grapes has been very popular here at Chocolate for over 14 years.
    DISAPPOINTMENTS

    Underwhelming experience, to say the least, compared with an exceptional 2015 date (note: regarding logistics, not the food or staff--the food, as usual, was delicious!):
    • Web site advertised a Valentines Menu, on both Saturday, February 13, as well as Sunday, February 14 (see image, below)
    • On Saturday, February 13, at 6:00 p.m., we reserved a table, for two, for later that night, at 8:15 p.m., verbally, via telephone (note: we did not confirm, at the time, whether they planned to serve the Valentines Menu...caveat emptor)
    • Arrived on time, at 8:15 p.m., but found our names not recorded, on the hostess' list; graciously, the hostess directed us to an available indoor table (which normally seats 6-8), without missing a beat--kudos, for that
    • However, we soon discovered the air conditioning vent, directly above the table, continually dripped condensation, on one end of the table...we scooted down, and, for the most part, successfully ignored it
    • We attempted to order the Valentines Menu prix fixe meal, per the web site advertisement, but restaurant staff (note: waiter confirmed, with the hostess) informed us the restaurant was serving regular menu items only, and not serving the prix fixe meal 
    Chocolate, the Restaurant's web site, as of Sunday, February 14, 2016, with text "Valentines Menu...Available Saturday & Sunday February 13 & 14."
    • Why did the web site say one thing, but staff say another?
      • We thought this might represent an error with updating web site text, year-over-year, but the Wayback Machine indicates the following web site text, from February 15, 2015--no indication of Saturday & Sunday option: "Valentines Menu: A four-course menu for two to share, with three entree courses to choose from. Discounted bottles of excellent red wine, white wine and spumante will be available. Price includes food for two. Gratuity, tax, and beverages extra."
      • Additionally, the 2015 Valentines Menu image specifically lists only February 14, 2015
      • ???
    So, we made the best of it. Caveat emptor. The meal ended up costing ~$75, including tax, tip, and wine, instead of the ~$75 + $20, for wine, plus tax & tip, for Valentines Day, so...we saved some maybe $20-30.

    Differences, from 2015:
    • Price increase, from $65, to $75 (+$10, or +15%)
    • Baby greens salad lists option, "White truffle & balsamic vinaigrette & romano cheese" (note: may have served the same, in 2015, but menu did not mention)
    • Main entree change: from "Tender Shrimp Crêpes, with saffron cream", to "Chile Verde Pork, with organic basmati rice"
    • Optional wine changes:

    Chocolate, the Restaurant's Valentines Menu 2016 prix fixe menu details
    To conclude: Food was delicious, staff friendly and accommodating, prices not unreasonable, but logistics, dripping ceiling water, and web site mis-communications kind of killed our date.

    Takeaway(s):

    • Make reservations online, as telephone reservations seem sketchy, per this Valentines experience and our Thanksgiving experience, at Hoffman's Downtown
    • Confirm, verbally, special meal reservations
    • Other (?)


    Previously

    Monday, February 08, 2016

    Personality Test, 2016-02-08: ISFJ-A, “The Defender”

    Took another test, this evening:
    Your personality type: “The Defender” (ISFJ-A)
    Strength of individual traits: Introverted: 57%, Observant: 53%, Feeling: 71%, Judging: 74%, Assertive: 67%.
    Role: Sentinel
    Strategy: Confident Individualism
    Link to your profile: http://www.16personalities.com/profiles/56b94907e908b
    This represents the second test to lead with "ISF": Introverted (slightly), observant (slightly), feeling (a lot).

    Previously (ISFP)

    Sunday, February 07, 2016

    Santa Cruz Super Bowl 10k, 3K, & 1K Kids Run

    This morning, sitting on my balcony, drinking coffee, and listening to whoops and hollering of race volunteers, of the Santa Cruz Super Bowl 10k, 3K, & 1K Kids Run, organized by the Santa Cruz Track Club, which occurs just a few blocks distant, at the back entrance to Natural Bridges State Beach, on Deleware Avenue. Lots of energy!

    Sunday, January 24, 2016

    Maytag Stacked Washer / Dryer

    Our apartment has a stacked washer / dryer, a Maytag Neptune Super Stack, model #MLE2000AYW.

    Manual:
    http://www.maytag.com/digitalassets/MLPDF/Use%20and%20Care%20Guide%20-%202202493.pdf

    To clean and freshen the washer interior:


    1. Make a solution of one cup chlorine bleach and two cups warm water. Be careful not to spill or splash the bleach solution.
    2. Wipe the lower portion of gray door seal with bleach solution and soft cloth.
    3. Fill the bleach dispenser with chlorine bleach.
    4. Run the washer through a complete cycle using hot water.
    5. Repeat the wash cycle if necessary


    Tuesday, January 19, 2016

    Meyers Brigs, 2016-01-18: ISFP

    Took a test, this evening.

    RESULT

    ISFP

    Introvert(25%)  Sensing(3%)  Feeling(12%)  Perceiving(6%)
    You have moderate preference of Introversion over Extraversion (25%)
    You have marginal or no preference of Sensing over Intuition (3%)
    You have slight preference of Feeling over Thinking (12%)
    You have slight preference of Perceiving over Judging (6%)

    http://www.humanmetrics.com/hr/jtypesresult.aspx?EI=-25&SN=3&TF=-12&JP=-6


    ANSWERS

    1. You are almost never late for your appointments
    uncertain
    2. You like to be engaged in an active and fast-paced job
    yes
    3. You enjoy having a wide circle of acquaintances
    uncertain
    4. You feel involved when watching TV soaps
    uncertain
    5. You are usually the first to react to a sudden event: the telephone ringing or unexpected question
    no
    6. You feel that the world is founded on compassion
    yes
    7. You think that everything in the world is relative
    YES
    8. Strict observance of the established rules is likely to prevent attaining a good outcome
    yes
    9. It is difficult to get you excited
    yes
    10. When making a decision, you rely more on your feelings than on analysis of the situation
    uncertain
    11. You often think about humankind and its destiny
    uncertain
    12. You believe the best decision is one which can be easily changed
    uncertain
    13. You often ponder the root cause of phenomena and things
    uncertain
    14. You prefer to act immediately rather than speculate about various options
    no
    15. You trust reason rather than feelings
    uncertain
    16. You are inclined to rely more on improvisation than on prior planning
    uncertain
    17. You spend your leisure time actively socializing with a group of people, attending parties, shopping, etc.
    NOa
    18. You usually plan your actions in advance
    yes
    19. Your actions are frequently influenced by your emotions
    uncertain
    20. You are a person somewhat reserved and distant in communication
    yes
    21. You know how to put every minute of your time to good purpose
    uncertain
    22. You often contemplate the complexity of life
    uncertain
    23. After prolonged socializing you feel you need to get away and be alone
    uncertain
    24. You often do jobs in a hurry
    uncertain
    25. You easily see the general principle behind specific occurrences
    uncertain
    26. You frequently and easily express your feelings and emotions
    uncertain
    27. You find it difficult to speak loudly
    no
    28. You get bored if you have to read theoretical books
    yes
    29. You tend to sympathize with other people
    YES
    30. You value justice higher than mercy
    uncertain
    31. You rapidly get involved in the social life of a new workplace
    no
    32. The more people you speak to, the better you feel
    uncertain
    33. You tend to rely on your experience rather than on theoretical alternatives
    yes
    34. As a rule, you proceed only when you have a clear and detailed plan
    no
    35. You easily empathize with the concerns of other people
    yes
    36. Often you prefer to read a book than go to a party
    yes
    37. When with a group of people, you enjoy being directly involved and being at the centre of attention
    no
    38. You are more inclined to experiment than to follow familiar approaches
    yes
    39. You are strongly touched by the stories about people's troubles
    uncertain
    40. Deadlines seem to you to be of relative rather than absolute importance
    yes
    41. You prefer to isolate yourself from outside noises
    YES
    42. It is essential for you to try things with your own hands
    uncertain
    43. You think that almost everything can be analyzed
    uncertain
    44. For you, no surprises is better than surprises - bad or good ones
    no
    45. You take pleasure in putting things in order
    YES
    46. You feel at ease in a crowd
    uncertain
    47. You have good control over your desires and temptations
    uncertain
    48. You easily understand new theoretical principles
    uncertain
    49. You usually place yourself nearer to the side than in the center of the room
    uncertain
    50. When solving a problem you would rather follow a familiar approach than seek a new one
    yes
    51. A thirst for adventure is something close to your heart
    uncertain
    52. When considering a situation you pay more attention to the current situation and less to a possible sequence of events
    uncertain
    53. When solving a problem you consider the rational approach to be the best
    uncertain
    54. You find it difficult to talk about your feelings
    uncertain
    55. Your decisions are based more on the feeling of a moment than on the thorough planning
    uncertain
    56. You prefer to spend your leisure time alone or relaxing in a tranquil atmosphere
    yes
    57. You feel more comfortable sticking to conventional ways
    uncertain
    58. You are easily affected by strong emotions
    uncertain
    59. You are always looking for opportunities
    uncertain
    60. As a rule, current preoccupations worry you more than your future plans
    yes
    61. It is easy for you to communicate in social situations
    uncertain
    62. You rarely deviate from your habits
    yes
    63. You willingly involve yourself in matters which engage your sympathies
    yes
    64. You easily perceive various ways in which events could develop
        yes

    Sunday, January 17, 2016

    Air King Exhaust Fan with Light

    http://www.airkinglimited.com/page/energy-star-exhaust-fan-light.html

    Our apartment has an Air King Exhaust Fan with Light, in our bathroom. Noting for future reference, for retrieving the owner manual.

    Sunday, January 10, 2016

    Radio Songs

    Heard on 91.5 FM, KKUP, out of Santa Cruz, visionary music, like space music, on Sunday, January 10, 2016.

    Friday, January 08, 2016

    Snoop Dog

    Had a dream, last night, in which I was Snoop Dog, going across a dusty patch of urban blight, to a small food stand.

    People outside, at some distance, were spray-painting graffiti, first on another building's wall, then just in the air, so the end effect became like a colored signalling smoke grenade.

    I woke up at 3:45 a.m., somewhere in the middle of ordering food.

    Making note to look up dreams of Snoop in a dream interpretive book. Heh.

    Note: I should mention, I did watch Conan O'Brien help train Diana Chang to drive, recently, which hilariously featured Kevin Hart and Ice Cube, along with a random pinata filled with marijuana, and may represent a contributing factor (?) I'm sympathetic, but otherwise rather out of Snoop's target demographic: don't go out of my way to listen to hip hop, don't use recreational drugs, and so forth.

    Thursday, January 07, 2016

    Bouncer records New Years Eve 2014

    Night in the life of a bouncer on NYE - Gatsby New Years 2014
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uurT7yVWkQ

    Filmed at the Gatsby Sound House & Bar, London, Ontario, just over the border from Detroit (map)
    http://gatsbyldn.com/

    The first guy saying "It's my brother's birthday" reminds me of Homestar Runner.

    The video reminds me of *EVERY* house party I ever attended.

    Just very, very loud, disorienting, and rather unpleasant.

    I never thought about staying sober! ; o )

    Thursday, December 31, 2015

    Harry Potter Film Marathon

    We watched the Harry Potter movies last weekend:
    1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
    2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
    3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
    5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
    6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
    7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
    8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
    An enjoyable break. 

    I thought #7, Deathly Hallows - Part 1, represented both the darkest and the most discordant note, in the franchise, like getting repeated visual gut punches over two hours (for example, wedding, the Lovegood betrayal, torture, drowning, no solace in his hometown). In particular, I remember them running from the Snatchers and thinking how minimalist and psychological the movie was, at that moment, with nothing to hear except forest footfalls, frantic breathing, and magic. So, fine film-making, but personally I think it represents a discordant note in the series, with respect to tone. Bleak, wintry, edgy, mature themes (fascism, torture, and so forth). I guess I am trying to say, I liked it, to my surprise, even though immediately I felt bored and impatient with the pacing.

    Sunday, December 20, 2015

    Spoonk Mat

    Saw this at a local store:
    SPOONK is the leading acupressure massage mat brand sold in fine Health Food stores, including WHOLE FOODS markets throughout the USA AND CANADA. - ECO FOAM FILLING - MADE IN THE USA Spoonk mats have the OPTIMAL NUMBER of 6200 stimulation points FOR THE HIGHEST EFFECT (more spikes decrease the effect by lowering pressure). - 5 YEAR WARRANTY - 30-day money back guarantee STIMULATION POINTS are made with high quality NON-TOXIC ABS PLASTIC that will not cause allergic reactions, as some cheaper mats on the market do. - 100% high quality thick cotton/ eco foam made in USA as a LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION

    Tom Killion

    California's Wild Edge, by Tom Killion:
    "This new volume captures the beauty of the California coast from Mendocino, Point Reyes, and the San Francisco Bay down through Carmel, Big Sur, Santa Barbara, and Santa Monica. Woodcut artist Tom Killion's prints combine exquisite color with dynamic composition to portray the coast's ever-changing moods and diverse formations: storm tides crashing at Point Lobos, serene moonlit coves at Mendocino, fog encircling the Golden Gate Bridge. Deepening our experience are poetry and prose from Gary Snyder, as well as selections from Native Californian traditional stories, accounts of travelers, and poems by Jane Hirshfield, Robert Hass, and Jaime de Angulo. As Tamalpais Walking and The High Sierra of California did for lovers of mountains, California's Wild Edge will delight anyone who has seen (or wants to see) the meeting of land and sea."
    Saw it at Costco for $30.

    Previously.
     

    Charles Prentiss: Salinas Valley Farm

    Salinas Valley Farm: Oil on canvas (#322.2013)   24x24
    Seen at Kelly's French Bakery, Santa Cruz.

    "Charles Prentiss is an artist, museum exhibit designer and architectural consultant living in La Selva Beach,  Santa Cruz County, CA"

    Film: Chi-Raq

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi-Raq

    Listened to an audio review. "The film is based on Aristophanes' Lysistrata, a Classical Greek comedy play in which various women withhold physical affection from their husbands as punishment for fighting in war."

    Radio Songs

    Heard on KRSA 103.3 FM out of Moss Beach, California:
    • New York City-based Son Lux's "I Am The Others", from his 2015 album "Bones", on the Glassnote Records label. Audio.

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens

    Tonight, Sunday night/Monday morning 2:30 a.m. showing, in San Francisco, in IMAX 3D.

    From the IMAX web site:
    Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released across our various cutting-edge projection technologies including our xenon digital system, IMAX 15/70mm film and our next-generation laser system. Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you back again to a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars returns to the big screen with Star Wars: The Force Awakens.The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by J.J. Abrams & Lawrence Kasdan.The IMAX release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of An IMAX 3D Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
    The AMC Metreon theatre has 3D IMAX Laser projection:
    “Another of the largest IMAX theaters in the country, SF’s Metreon also boasts a local connection that makes it the place for Bay Area Star Wars fans to see the new film. Since SF is also the home of Dolby Laboratories, the Metreon theater is fortunate enough to have both 3D IMAX Laser projection as well as a theater equipped with AMC ETX, which features Dolby Atmos sound.”
    Via: http://www.wired.com/2015/12/best-star-wars-screens/
    Parking:
    UPDATE:
    • Parking went smoothly
    • Raining, lightly
    • Union Square:
      • Saw the ice skating rink, at Union Square--skaters skating through the thin layer of rainwater which had collected
      • Inflatable Snoopy, by Macy's (someone had dropped a fork onto the top)
      • Saw the "Winter Walk": http://www.visitunionsquaresf.com/blog/winter_walk_sf_is_here/ "second annual Winter Walk, organized by the Union Square Business Improvement District with help from the SFMTA. This year there will also be light shows, food trucks, San Francisco-centric live performances such as Velocity Circus and a variety of other attractions set in the pop-up plaza along Stockton Street between Geary and Ellis. Visit WinterWalkSF.com for event schedule and details."
      • Walked through Macy's; looked at holiday decorations
    • Walked to the theatre, stopping for coffee, on the way
    • Waited, in the lobby, sitting on the floor, played Words with Friends
    • More coffee and root beer soda, to stay awake
    • We attended the 2:30 a.m. showing, the last of the premier weekend
    • Premier weekend merchandise:
    • Got a number of free "AMC IMAX Star Wars print", #1 of 4: "Every Sunday from December 20 to January 10, get an exclusive AMC IMAX Star Wars print when you see the movie in IMAX 3D! A new poster will be given away each week, so make sure to collect them all!"
      Ticket takers encouraged us to "take as many as we liked", so we grabbed about a score of them
    • Dawn purchased a women's cut Star Wars tee shirt, for $25:



      • The concession booth attendants suggested Dawn get the purple "Galaxy Premiere Star Wars Force Awakens Women's Dolman Tee", but, after trying them on, she got the grey one
      • They also tried to sell me a "Star Wars The Force Awakens: 30,000 Limited Edition Galaxy Premiere Ticket Holder"...but yeah, probably a mistake not to buy and resell, but, then again, lots of stuff floating around never amounts to anything

      • We had seats G28 and G29, dead center, both front-to-back and right-to-left
      • Fans cheered upon the opening crawl, but otherwise very respectful and quiet
      • One fan walked in with a "IT'S A TRAP" white trucker cap and a purple plastic lightsaber; we saw a few others with lightsabers
      • Movie notes:
      • Solid showing; very enjoyable; would watch again
      • Poe's character reminded me of Scott Baio, from Charles in Charge
      • Leia's character's voice (gravelly?) reminded me of someone...haven't put my finger on it, yet (UPDATE: I think it reminds me of Kate McKinnon's portrayal of Hillary Clinton, on Saturday Night Live. Heh. For example)
      • Luke's character looked overweight...sort of out-of-place, for an ascetic living so remotely
      • Rey's character did very well--much harder to portray than the others...more complicated
      • Finn's character seemed to express the emotions of the audience
      • BB-8 a clear winner
      • Maz Kanata = the new Yoda

    Tuesday, December 08, 2015

    Just for fun:
    "NOT AN ENTRANCE [N] OR EXIT"
    Corrected. Heh ; o )

    This door existed, in West Sacramento, as of September 1, 2010. I saw it after walking across the Tower Bridge, to go pick up our car from the mechanic, who had done some welding on the exhaust. Who knows, if it still exists.

    Omar Khayyám: "Yesterday This Day's Madness did prepare...."



    "Yesterday This Day's Madness did prepare;
    To-morrow's Silence, Triumph, or Despair:
    Drink! for you know not whence you came, nor why:
    Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where."

    Source: Omar Khayyám [ عمر خیام Persian] (18 May 1048 – 4 December 1131) was a Persian mathematician, astronomer, and writer; originally named Ghiyath al-Din Abu'l-Fath Omar ibn Ibrahim Al-Nisaburi Khayyámi (غیاث الدین ابو الفتح عمر بن ابراهیم خیام نیشابوری) Edward FitzGerald's translations of his poetic Rubaiyat (Quatrains) were immensely popular, and remain influential.

    Sunday, December 06, 2015

    The Bloggess - Book Signing Event

    Dawn and I attended a book signing event, at the Bookshop Santa Cruz, for The Bloggess, on Friday, December 4, 2015.

    You may have to embiggen, but we do exist, in the top photo of this montage...partially obscured by masks...several rows back

    Here we are, in line

    Thursday, December 03, 2015

    Animation - Miyazaki Hayao Complete Box/Works (13BDS) [Japan BD] VWBS-1531

    Saw Subject mentioned, today, on Angry Asian Man.

    Web site CDJapan lists Crown Tokuma, as the Japanese distributor, while Walt Disney Studios seems to represent the North American distributor, in partnership with Amazon. Amazon seems to list a November 17, 2015 North American release date.

    Have read through some commentary, on differences between the Japan and North America versions, as well as comments on the North American release itself. In general, comments seem positive.

    Leaving this here, as a page to note details, as I read more.

    Differences

    • Languages

    Notes

    • Individual film notes, from the 2015 North American release:
      1. Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) 
      2. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) 
      3. Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986) 
      4. My Neighbor Totoro (1988) 
      5. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)
        • This collection seems to include Disney's 2010 reissue
        • Wikipedia lists the differences between the versions
        • An Amazon comment summarizes: "Disney reissued the dub in 2010 without the extra dialogue (notably Jiji's one-liners) and jettisoned the Sydney Forest opening and ending songs for the Japanese ones. Why? Because purists absolutely DETESTED them. They DETESTED them with a vengeance, so Disney bowed to their whims and fixed them. But yes, it came with a price; it's impossible for me to listen to the 2010 DVD update because of the bad sound quality. The original cut of KIKI had crisper audio. Unfortunately because this edit is more accurate to the Japanese presentation, it was decided to include this on the BD release instead. I would have preferred if Disney issued the movie with BOTH versions of the dub, so as to allow people a chance to choose."
      6. Porco Rosso (1992) 
      7. Princess Mononoke (1997) 
      8. Spirited Away (2001) 
      9. Howl's Moving Castle (2004) 
      10. Ponyo (2008) 
      11. The Wind Rises (2013)
    • Special features:
    • Misses special features from individual releases
    • Includes:
    • Dubtitles:
    • Dubtitle issues have been fixed

                        Wednesday, December 02, 2015

                        Stikkmenn

                        http://stikkmenn.no/

                        What's with everyone in Santa Cruz having these amazing vehicles to travel in? Saw a Stikkmenn camper, in the parking lot, at Trader Joe's, a couple of weekends ago.

                        I Want to Believe: Deercow


                        The University of California, Santa Cruz "deercow" legend...I want to believe. I also want a poster like the one above, from The X-Files, but with a deercow. I also want to know what a deercow looks like, because I don't know what a deercow looks like. It's a deer and a cow, obviously. In what proportion, though?

                        I believe the book, "An Unnatural History of UCSC", ISBN 2800840059880, quotes a woman who relates the anecdote of how she coined the term, while walking, at night, through the campus fields and redwoods. I can't find much reference to it, otherwise, other than the book listings and one obscure page

                        Deercow. I want to believe.

                        Panchosway2015: Simone Rupp & Stefan Leicht

                        Saw this vehicle, in Santa Cruz, this past weekend:

                        http://www.panchosway2015.de/

                        Will Model 4 Toyz

                        Saw a sticker:
                        http://www.willmodel4toyz.com/


                        Tuesday, December 01, 2015

                        I called the Nintendo Hotline, in 1987

                        Really enjoyed reading the Onion Inc.'s A.V. Club's article, "What was it like to be a Nintendo game play counselor?", by Annie Zaleski, published on 2015-11-21:
                        http://www.avclub.com/article/what-was-it-be-nintendo-game-play-counselor-224289
                        The article mentions Shadowgate, a 1987 point-and-click adventure video game developed by ICOM Simulations, Inc. and published by Kemco, for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

                        The name sounds familiar, and after looking it up, I remembered why: it represents the one game I called the Nintendo Powerline about. In the game, you eventually have to kill a werewolf. My 10-year-old self didn't know silver represents a weapon to use against werewolves. Well, to the Nintendo Powerline I went, after many, many hours of frustration. A man answered. In response to my explanation, he began leisurely hinting at the answer. Not knowing the key insight, I just got frustrated, because, at that time, long distance calls cost a non-trivial amount, per minute. A per-minute surcharge may have also existed. Zaleski's article describes this:
                        CF: The funny thing was, we were originally told to just counsel them into the answer, and help them feel like they’ve figured it out themselves. Give them some hints, or kind of coach them along. But people sometimes would lose their patience completely with that, and want the answer immediately. Which didn’t always end well on the phones.
                        He finally told me, and I thanked him, and that was that. It went fine, no angry words, just frustration, which I think he sensed. I learned something, succeeded in getting past the room, and eventually completed the game. Ta-da. Looking back, I can appreciate and understand the point of their approach, with giving hints.

                        An ex-werewolf (via)
                        So, it provided a very useful service, in the pre-Internet era, and I am grateful for the service.

                        The other game I called about, to the Origin game help hotline, was an RPG PC game, I think, near the end game, which may have glitched out? Again, very helpful.

                        UPDATE: It was Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, a 1993 first-person role-playing video game developed by Looking Glass Technologies and published by Origin Systems. Near the endgame, I would use the colorless potion of Basilisk oil, but nothing proc'd. The person I called got me through it, but I am not sure what the issue was. I think I was attempting to use the basilisk oil potion, at the place of the ritual in the Void, when I needed to use it instead of on mud in the ice caverns, and so forth, and so forth.

                        Basilisk oil, when only colorless will do (via)
                        The article mentions the game Legacy of the Wizard, a 1989 fantasy-themed action role-playing platform game, developed by Nihon Falcom and published, for the NES, by Brøderbund. The article mentions the game gave the Nintendo game counselors a bad time:
                        CF: ...My first day on the phone was just terrifying—just call after call after call. I had no idea what these people were talking about. They were playing The Goonies II, which was one of the most dreaded calls you could possibly get—that and Legacy Of The Wizard. [Bloom and Lowder groan.] 
                        SB: As soon as someone called me and said, “Legacy Of The Wizard,” I was just like, “There goes my day.” 
                        AVC: What was wrong with that game? 
                        SB: We had maps of it, like screenshot maps, and we could see the whole entire game. It was basically a side shot. But how many rooms were in that? Like 100 rooms? 
                        CF: They all kind of looked the same. “Yeah, I’m in a room with gray bricks.” [Laughs.] You’re like, “Kill me. Kill me now.” So I made a horrible impression my first day. All the veteran game play counselors wanted to kill me. They kept getting transfers from extension 782—why I remember [my extension number], I have no idea. That was a rough first time on the phones....
                        That game I got through, on my own. That is, probably with the help of Nintendo Power magazine? Heh. ; o )

                        Good times.

                        Sunday, November 29, 2015

                        Dash cam: Koonlung K1S Dual Channel Dash Cam

                        In early 2015, Chinese manufacturer Koonlung began selling dual camera dash cam model KS1, which has two mini cameras and separate control display and GPS modules:

                        http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2015/3/1/k1s-the-first-front-rear-hidden-1080p-dash-camera.html

                        Currently priced at ~$275, with GPS, from Spy Tec. Initial reviews seem to indicate possible overheating and reboot/freeze issues.

                        The last time I checked, in October, 2014, the Vico Marcus 5 seemed like the only model available which worked well. However, while the Marcus 5 has a mini rear camera, the front camera included the display module, making it look bulky. Plus, it cost nearly $400.

                        Looking forward to more competition, in this category.

                        http://www.koonlung.com/productview_33.html (note: Kooklung KS1 product page)

                        Saturday, November 14, 2015

                        Ben Franklin, On Liberty and Safety: Source and Context

                        WikiQuote lists 11 variations of Benjamin Franklin's quote. Today I found the original wording (attributed to Franklin):
                        "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

                        SUMMARY - ORIGINAL INTENT

                        "Liberty", in this case, refers to the question of whether the 1755 Pennsylvania Assembly, which included Benjamin Franklin, had the authority to tax lands owned by the Penn family, the legal landowners of the Province of Pennsylvania, per the charter granted by English king Charles II.

                        "Safety", in this case, refers to frontier defense against attacks during the French and Indian War, which had started the previous year, in 1754.

                        In brief, the Pennsylvania Assembly members seemed to have two choices:
                        1. Choose Safety over Liberty: the Assembly could immediately create a tax to raise funds for frontier defense, with the condition that they could not tax the Penn family's lands
                        2. Choose Liberty over Safety: by re-asserting the Assembly's right to tax lands owned by the Penn family, an administrative delay might occur in getting authorization to create a tax to raise funds, for frontier defense
                        From below:
                        "Franklin was thus complaining of the choice facing the legislature between being able to make funds available for frontier defense and maintaining its right of self-governance--and he was criticizing the governor for suggesting it should be willing to give up the latter to ensure the former."

                        SOURCE

                        From WikiQuote: "This was first written by Franklin for the Pennsylvania Assembly in its Reply to the Governor (11 Nov. 1755)", which, in part, reads:
                        "In fine, we have the most sensible Concern for the poor distressed Inhabitants of the Frontiers. We have taken every Step in our Power, consistent with the just Rights of the Freemen of Pennsylvania, for their Relief, and we have Reason to believe, that in the Midst of their Distresses they themselves do not wish us to go farther. Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. Such as were inclined to defend themselves, but unable to purchase Arms and Ammunition, have, as we are informed, been supplied with both, as far as Arms could be procured, out of Monies given by the last Assembly for the King’s Use; and the large Supply of Money offered by this Bill, might enable the Governor to do every Thing else that should be judged necessary for their farther Security, if he shall think fit to accept it. Whether he could, as he supposes, “if his Hands had been properly strengthened, have put the Province into such a Posture of Defence, as might have prevented the present Mischiefs,” seems to us uncertain; since late Experience in our neighbouring Colony of Virginia (which had every Advantage for that Purpose that could be desired) shows clearly, that it is next to impossible to guard effectually an extended Frontier, settled by scattered single Families at two or three Miles Distance, so as to secure them from the insiduous Attacks of small Parties of skulking Murderers: But thus much is certain, that by refusing our Bills from Time to Time, by which great Sums were seasonably offered, he has rejected all the Strength that Money could afford him; and if his Hands are still weak or unable, he ought only to blame himself, or those who have tied them."

                        ADDITIONAL CONTEXT

                        In pre-American Revolution 1755, at the time of first use, Franklin and company, as members of the Pennsylvania Assembly, found themselves in an ongoing dispute with the Pennsylvania Colonial Deputy Governor, Robert Hunter Morris, who served at the pleasure of members of the Penn family, who lived abroad, in England.

                        The Penn family was led by Thomas Penn, the son of William Penn. William Penn had founded the Province of Pennsylvania, in 1681, initially owning all 120,000 square kilometers, via king Charles II of England, who granted the charter transferring the lands to Penn, in part to satisfy a debt owed by Charles II to William Penn's father, the sea admiral Sir William Penn.

                        Thomas, unlike his father, ruled from afar, in aristocratic fashion, perhaps in an attempt to salvage the family's finances, as his father had died penniless.

                        The dispute centered around the determination of whether a proposed tax, created by the Pennsylvania Assembly, for "Safety" (that is, frontier defense), could tax the lands owned by the Penn family, or not. 

                        Franklin and company argued the Pennsylvania Assembly had the "Liberty" to tax the Penn family lands. The Pennsylvania Colonial Governor, who served at the pleasure of the Penn family, disagreed. No surprise, there.

                        The quotation arises in a letter Franklin and company have written to the Governor. They seem fired up. It seems the Governor has given them two options:
                        1. Immediately obtain the Pennsylvania Governor's permission to create a tax, for "Safety" (that is, frontier defense), by accepting the Governor's poison-pill condition: the loss of the Assembly's "Liberty" to tax the Penn family's lands
                        2. Assert the Assembly's "Liberty" to tax the Penn family's lands, via joint letter to the Governor, at the risk of delays in raising funds for "Safety" (again, frontier defense)
                        By writing the letter, the Pennsylvania Assembly members chose the latter option, using Franklin's quote, for emphasis. 

                        A TechCrunch ariticle, from February 14, 2014, provides context, in part, via a July 15, 2011 article, from the Brookings Institute’s Benjamin Wittes' blog Lawfare:
                        “The letter was a salvo in a power struggle between the governor and the assembly over funding for security on the frontier, one in which the assembly wished to tax the lands of the Penn family." 
                        From Wittes article:
                        "The words appear originally in a 1755 letter that Franklin is presumed to have written on behalf of the Pennsylvania Assembly to the colonial governor during the French and Indian War. The letter was a salvo in a power struggle between the governor and the Assembly over funding for security on the frontier, one in which the Assembly wished to tax the lands of the Penn family, which ruled Pennsylvania from afar, to raise money for defense against French and Indian attacks. The governor kept vetoing the Assembly’s efforts at the behest of the family, which had appointed him. So to start matters, Franklin was writing not as a subject being asked to cede his liberty to government, but in his capacity as a legislator being asked to renounce his power to tax lands notionally under his jurisdiction. In other words, the “essential liberty” to which Franklin referred was thus not what we would think of today as civil liberties but, rather, the right of self-governance of a legislature in the interests of collective security.
                        What's more the “purchase [of] a little temporary safety” of which Franklin complains was not the ceding of power to a government Leviathan in exchange for some promise of protection from external threat; for in Franklin’s letter, the word “purchase” does not appear to have been a metaphor. The governor was accusing the Assembly of stalling on appropriating money for frontier defense by insisting on including the Penn lands in its taxes--and thus triggering his intervention. And the Penn family later offered cash to fund defense of the frontier--as long as the Assembly would acknowledge that it lacked the power to tax the family’s lands. Franklin was thus complaining of the choice facing the legislature between being able to make funds available for frontier defense and maintaining its right of self-governance--and he was criticizing the governor for suggesting it should be willing to give up the latter to ensure the former.
                        In short, Franklin was not describing some tension between government power and individual liberty. He was describing, rather, effective self-government in the service of security as the very liberty it would be contemptible to trade. Notwithstanding the way the quotation has come down to us, Franklin saw the liberty and security interests of Pennsylvanians as aligned."
                        In the short-to-medium term, the Pennsylvania Assembly's effort failed, in two ways:
                        1. The Pennsylvania deputy governor ultimately refused, stating the terms of his commission did not grant him the authority to tax the lands owned by the Penn family
                        2. Franklin's subsequent effort, in 1757, to bypass the Pennsylvania governor, via travel to England and direct appeal to the English government, also failed, for lack of support in Whitehall
                        In the long term, after the American Revolution, Franklin lived to see the Penn family lose all their lands. Thomas Penn had died several years earlier, in 1771.

                        PRIOR USAGE

                        As noted, on WikiQuote, Franklin seems to have published an earlier variation, in Poor Richard's Almanack (1738):
                        "Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power."

                        ADDITIONAL NOTES

                        I should note the ongoing discussion about whether contemporary usage of this quote reflects what Benjamin Franklin meant to imply, seems a topic of muddy value. Is it a quote limited to governmental taxation (liberty) and defense (safety)? Or, in more contemporary usage, does it refer to learned helplessness, by which citizens give away civil liberties to the Leviathan government, which promises to protect them? 

                        Benjamin Franklin was a revolutionary. He overthrew governments and led a non-conformist life. The quote, as a part of him, seems quite of the same cloth. 

                        He was also human, just like you and me. His usage in the 1755 letter reflected a spin on a phrase he had most likely long used. In my opinion, it reflected a means to an end.

                        In the big picture, the tension and trade-offs between anarchy and ossification represents a common theme stretching across thousands of years of human organization (hat tip, Bertrand Russell). Think: Renaissance Italy and European dark ages, respectively.

                        RESOURCES

                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_colonial_governors_of_Pennsylvania
                        https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin#Quotes
                        http://franklinpapers.org/franklin/framedVolumes.jsp?vol=6&page=238a
                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hunter_Morris
                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_and_Indian_War
                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Penn_(Royal_Navy_officer)
                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Penn
                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Penn
                        http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2011/9/21%20platform%20security%20wittes/0921_platform_security_wittes.pdf
                        http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/14/how-the-world-butchered-benjamin-franklins-quote-on-liberty-vs-security/

                        Friday, November 13, 2015

                        Prius High-Intensity Discharge Headlamp (HID) Bulb Replacement

                        Replaced both headlamp bulbs yesterday, on November 12, 2015.

                        NOTES

                        • Driver's side seemed harder, for me, due to the fuse box, which limited space more than the passenger's side, I think
                        • Driver's side clip's shape seemed distorted, a bit, so I had difficulty replacing it. I eventually did the best I could and tested it for snugness--it was snug, so replaced the cap and called it a day...note: did not have this problem on the passenger's side
                        • Dealership "Toyota & Scion of Santa Cruz" quoted me $200+ to do the job, just for labor
                        • Used new, disposable latex gloves while installing the bulb, and Mechanix gloves otherwise...protected my hands nicely from random scrapes and scratches, and gave better grip
                        • Night before, I wiped the bulbs with rubbing alcohol (that is, 70% isopropyl alcohol); dried overnight
                        • New headlamp bulbs glow, in a blueish white color
                        • Aligning the bulb: hold it in place with one hand, then step back and look through the front of the headlamp...you will see the bulb poking through and get another indication of whether you have aligned it properly
                        • The electrode, the part which looks like a metal bar and runs along one side of the bulb glass, should face down (?)
                        • I think the knobs, on the bulb back should align horizontally (?)
                        • Time elapsed: 45-60 minutes
                        • Do it again? Yes

                        RESOURCES

                        Tuesday, November 10, 2015

                        A Suitable Wardrobe

                        Link: https://asuitablewardrobe.com

                        Have read his blog for a number of years. Too expensive for my tastes, generally, at this time. Well versed, though.

                        Wednesday, November 04, 2015

                        Matcha Yogurt

                        Saw a delivery truck for Los Angeles-based 北京酸奶 (Beijing Yogurt) while driving near San Jose, on I-880/Highway 17 area, on Monday.

                        They sell Matcha Yogurt, which seemed noteworthy.

                        https://www.facebook.com/BeijingYogurt/
                        http://www.bjyogurt.com/

                        T-Swizzle, K-Shizzle

                        Reading an Esquire magazine while waiting at my barber, and read that Taylor Swift occassionally refers to herself as T-Swizzle.

                        K-Shizzle?

                        None Too Keene: Nancy Drew Noir

                        Performance art of Nancy Drew, in a more hardboiled style:


                        "She knew. About the coded phrases served up at social teas. About the untidy passions externalized in a broken locket. About what goes down on a hidden staircase. With one hundred and seventy five mysteries solved by age eighteen, Nancy Drew had seen more than Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, and Mike Hammer combined. And she'd seen enough. On graduating high school, she quit sleuthing, and took to writing her memoirs. "For profit," she once told an inquiring librarian. "And no other fool reason." When the manuscript for The Secret of the Old Clock hit Grosset & Dunlap's desks in 1930, they knew they had gold, but they balked. "On prose like that," said friend James M. Cain, "You could've cracked a shotglass". Enter "Carolyn Keene," a collective pseudonym for a group of editors who cake decorated Drew's language with enough twee adverbs to choke a Girl Scout. It worked. The books sold 80 million copies, a new role model emerged, and Nancy Drew laughed all the way to the bank.

                        In the process, American literature got swindled.

                        To help restore this lost voice of hard-boiled crime writing, we called on the best: noir preservationist Eddie Muller, author of Dark City; The Distance; and Grindhouse, and founder of The Film Noir Foundation, and San Francisco's Noir City Film Festival. In celebration of this literary justice, we are presenting an evening of selections from Ms. Drew's first original manuscript, read by streetwise gamine of local theater, Lydia Odette Warren. Muller will be on hand to provide context and commentary, and piano-bar veteran Richard Leiter "

                        : o )

                        (via)

                        SAMFOX

                        SAMFOX represents an acronym (emphasis added):

                        "The base is also tasked, under what is known as "SAM FOX", to provide worldwide airlift for the vice president, the president's Cabinet, members of Congress, military leaders and other high ranking dignitaries. At one time, "SAM FOX", was used as a prefix to an aircraft tail number, during radio transmissions to identify Air Force aircraft that were transporting high-ranking VIPs, typically on foreign flights. The call sign prefix was constructed from the acronym SAM (Special Air Mission) and the initial F (Foreign), which at the time was represented by the phonetic word "Fox.""

                        Today, it represents "...a term that represents the ultimate in professional dedication."
                        (via, via)

                        Monday, November 02, 2015

                        Prius Replacement Headlamp

                        Tips:

                        • Replace in pairs (light changes, over time)
                        • D2R
                        • Sources:
                          • Highperformancebulbs.com (via)
                          • "Buy a Phillips or Osram labeled bulb that is 4100k or 4300k D2R ... and you will be set." (via)
                        Went with: "High Performance Xenon D2R HID replacement bulbs (2 bulbs) (Choose Your Color) Part # D2RHID", per recommendation and one year warranty. (link)

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